Book Description

Where Have All the Guernseys Gone? is a compassionate and nostalgic chronicle written by a third-generation Guernsey farmer and advocate celebrating the origin of the Guernsey, its profound influence in the United States in the 20th century, and developments leading to its status today. Far-sighted entrepreneurs created the American Guernsey Cattle Club, enabling H. D. Griswold and A. J. Phillips, two innovative and productive pioneers, to establish a county Guernsey Association that would later claim status as the Guernsey sales capital of America. The biographies of those two inspiring men and those of W. D. Hoard, early Guernsey enthusiast and creator of the "dairyman's bible" Hoard's Dairyman, and J. C. Penney, Guernsey promoter and owner of the world famous Foremost Guernsey herd, are vividly brought to life through interviews, extensive use of rare archival documents and period newspaper accounts. At a time before electricity and the internal combustion engine, and when the family cow was replaced by dairy animals capable of producing large amounts of milk, these four pioneers were among the leaders creating today's dairy industry. Long before animal rights activists, these men stressed love and proper care for animals. History enthusiasts will be enthralled by their stories as well as that of Admiral Byrd taking three Guernsey cows to Antarctica during his second expedition in 1933-1935 to provide him with the rich nourishment of milk. These four pioneers' philosophies and interactions should inspire all those who love the Guernsey to honor this heritage and to instigate a new generation of Guernsey pioneers. 31 illustrations, 276 pages including sources and index